NHL players have now joined the chorus of criticism the league is receiving for its decision not to suspend Zdeno Chara for his hit on Max Pacioretty.

Reigning Hart Trophy winner Henrik Sedin told the Vancouver Sun that he believed Chara when the defenseman said he didn’t intend to seriously injure Pacioretty. But that shouldn’t remove all accountability.

“It’s gotten to the point, you have to suspend guys if you hit the head,” Sedin said. “You have to do it even if guys say they didn’t mean to do it or it’s an accident. You have to start somewhere.”

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton was even more critical of the league, suggesting that the Bruins may be getting preferential treatment from the NHL.

“It’s just something with Boston,” Thornton, who played the first 7.5 years of his career in Boston, told the Toronto Globe and Mail. “It just seems like they have a horse show. We’ve seen the (Milan) Lucic cross-check to the head earlier and there’s no disciplinary thing. It’s just something about Boston and the disciplinary (process) is on their side. I’m not sure why that is.”

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell removed himself from the Chara hearing because his son Greg Campbell plays for the Bruins. NHL vice-president of operations Mike Murphy made the decision not to suspend Chara.

“I’m not assuming that Colin’s kid is on the team and that’s why, but it’s really bizarre,” Thornton said.